Sport
2 January, 2024
Cassandra Wang Lecouteur takes out historic Maryborough Women’s gift for $15,000 prize purse
The 161st Maryborough High-land Gathering was historic on the track for all the right reasons. For the first time in event history, the Leech’s Mitsubishi Women’s Gift was offering equal prize money to the men’s event, and it was Glen...
The 161st Maryborough High-land Gathering was historic on the track for all the right reasons.
For the first time in event history, the Leech’s Mitsubishi Women’s Gift was offering equal prize money to the men’s event, and it was Glen Waverley’s Cassandra Wang Lecouteur who benefitted the most, taking out the race in a tight finish.
Running off lane four, Wang Lecouteur was able to pick off the runners ahead of her, while also holding off the backmarkers behind her, to take victory with an adjusted time of 13.865, with Miriam Suares-Jury second with a time of 13.911, and backmarker Jessica Payne third with a 13.974.
Wang Lecouteur was very happy with the win.
“I’m really happy I got there in the end; it was a really close race,” she said.
With the prize money equalising for all athletes, Wang Lecouteur hoped this was a turning point for more quality female athletes to participate in the Maryborough gift, while also paying tribute to the Victorian Athletic League for the work they have done in making sure female athletes also benefit.
“It’s amazing, especially this year with the equal prize money. Hopefully in the future, it encourages more girls to enter, but it’s great to see — there is a difference being made across the league now,” she said.
All in all, Wang Lecouteur was able to soak in the atmosphere on her second trip to Maryborough, having sampled the track for the first time in 2023.
“I love the atmosphere here, with everything surrounding the track, the bagpipes, and it makes it so much fun,” she said.
“There’s always a lot of pressure, but I try and block it out as much as I can, and watching the Heavy Games in between was a really good distraction as well.”
With temperatures pushing towards 30 degrees throughout the day, Wang Lecouteur felt she had to block out the weather to be able to get the job done throughout.
“Honestly, I didn’t notice much of a difference, it felt hot all afternoon, and before the final, it felt like it was super-hot, but you still have to deliver, no matter what the conditions are,” she said.
Wang Lecouteur was quick to pay tribute to her coaches and support staff, which go back all the way to Melbourne University.
“The major support for me is my coach — Matty,” she said.
“He’s always there at training, driving me to these gifts, always there when I need to talk or need any advice, and my squad at Melbourne University are always pushing me at training, and came out to support me too.”
The focus now for Wang Lecouteur is not just to continue competing across the Victorian Athletic League, but also break through at a national level.
Wang Lecouteur also hinted that there will be a focus on different events to build up her repertoire as an all-round athlete.
“I want to do a few more meets, focus on the 70 metres and 300, and try to do a few Athletics Victoria meets as well, try and get a good time for the 100 and 200, as I seem to be running pretty well, and hopefully go to Nationals as well,” she said.
